Final Checklist
Click through the tabs below to what you should do before you leave (or download the printable PDF at the bottom to check off items as you do them).
Login to your my study abroad account to complete all forms
Check the calendar icon on the GEO homepage for exact dates
Apply at least 6 months prior to departure. Make sure it’s valid at least six months after your return to the U.S.
You need a passport to apply for a visa at your host country’s embassy. Apply for a visa at least 4 months prior to departure.
Note: Starting in 2025, students going to countries in the European Union will almost certainly need to apply for ETIAS (a visa waiver). Learn more about this upcoming change.
Find out if you need to get immunizations/vaccinations. Get a medical check-up. Make sure you have enough prescription medication for your time abroad.
Provide your bank with your travel dates and all country destinations. Have multiple sources of money available (including a credit card). Check if your cards and PIN numbers work abroad.
- Make a set of all your documents to take with you as a backup, and leave a set with a trusted family member/friend. Pay outstanding bills. Arrange a cell phone for abroad, cancel subscriptions and have your mail forwarded.
- If you want the Atlas Intercultural Badge, plan to do that while abroad too. (Digital micro-credentials provide documentation of achieved and mastered skills, in a format that can be shared with employers. Express the skills gained through study abroad in job applications and interviews. Email the Global Education Advisor for more information.)
Want a way to maximize learning opportunities abroad to
- Better market yourself as a valuable employee/student to potential employers/graduate programs.
- Get a deeper understanding of your host culture.
This optional, self-guided program involves three tasks (of your choosing) that you will accomplish before, during, and after your travel. Upon completion, you will receive a digital badge - a visual and marketable online representation of the experience and skills you gained while studying abroad that a traditional transcript can't convey. Badges can be added to your LinkedIn profile, digital resume, e-portfolio, social media, etc.
Learn more and sign up.
*Note you will need to sign up at least 2 months before your study abroad program begins
Wait to buy a plane ticket till after you’ve been accepted into your program.
If you have housing or dining contracts that will not be needed while you are away, go to Hokie SPA (Housing and Dining Services menu) to cancel those before you leave.
Set a reminder in your calendar. At least halfway before your study abroad experience is over WHILE YOU ARE ABROAD, you will need to request an official transcript from your study abroad provider or host institution upon completion of the program. Instructions can be found in your study abroad account.